Newsletter 07.25 - Friday 23 May 2025

Principal's Message

Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members,

I begin this week by holding in prayer all those affected by the devastating weather that has impacted our region. The recent flooding, particularly in areas such as Dungog which has experienced record rainfall, has brought significant hardship to many families and communities. As we face these challenging times, I pray for your health, safety, and wellbeing. May the rain ease soon, and may we continue to stand together in compassion and solidarity—supporting one another with strength, care, and hope.

Leading with Hope: Insights from the ACSP Conference

This week, I attended the ACSP Conference in the Hunter Valley alongside most Principals and System Leaders from across our Diocese, as well as colleagues from Catholic schools throughout the state. These gatherings provide a valuable opportunity to connect, reflect, and network with fellow principals as we share in the collective mission of Catholic education. The theme for this year is "Living Waters: Leading with Hope, Inspiring Faith Communities." This theme underscores the importance of hope-filled leadership in nurturing vibrant, faith-based educational environments in times of turbulence and change. Key messages focus on enhancing learning and wellbeing within our Catholic schools, ensuring that our communities remain strong and faith-centred. I look forward to sharing some of the key takeaways from the conference in our next newsletter.

St Mary’s hosts Secondary Principals’ Association Meeting: Future-Focused Insights for Our Students

On Tuesday 13 May, St Mary’s Catholic College had the honour of hosting the Hunter Region Secondary Principals’ Association meeting. It was a valuable day of connection and dialogue, with guest speakers offering rich insight into the current and future landscape of education, employment, and opportunity for our young people.

We were privileged to welcome Mr Bob Hawes, CEO of the Hunter Business Chamber, along with Associate Professor Rob Parkes (Interim Head of the School of Education) and Mr Simon Bush (Director, Future Students – Domestic), both from the University of Newcastle. Their presentations offered clear and compelling messages about the world our students are entering and the role our schools play in preparing them for it.

The State of Business and Opportunity in the Hunter

Mr Bob Hawes spoke candidly about the evolving economic landscape of our region. The Hunter faces real challenges—particularly around housing affordability, transport infrastructure, and the transition from traditional industries like coal to new economies in renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. However, the region is also full of promise. There is significant growth projected in health care, education, construction, and professional services over the next 2–10 years. Employers are looking for adaptable, well-rounded people who can learn, lead, and collaborate.

University Trends: A Shifting Pathway

From the University of Newcastle, we heard that fewer students are using their ATAR as a direct entry pathway into university. Instead, there's a growing trend toward portfolio-based applications, early entry programs, and recognition of skills and experiences beyond the exam room. The university is focused on flexibility, equity, and ensuring that regional students are not disadvantaged by location or circumstance.

St Mary’s Commitment: Building Future-Ready Graduates

For our College, these insights reaffirm the importance of ensuring every student is aware of the full range of opportunities available to them—not just within our region, but far beyond it. Whether they choose university, TAFE, apprenticeships, or direct entry into the workforce, our role is to equip them with:

• A strong sense of purpose and confidence
• Transferable skills—such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration
• Awareness of emerging industries and global trends
• Opportunities to engage in real-world learning, leadership, and service

At St Mary’s, we remain committed to nurturing not just academic achievement but personal growth, ethical character, and career awareness, so that each student can shape a meaningful future, grounded in faith, guided by values, and alive with possibility.

Kind Regards,

Brett Donohoe - Principal

Parent Information Session

Invitation: Parent information session and discussion on "Strengthening Student Connections, Growing Leaders: An Invitation to help Shape Our Future"

Your voice plays a vital role in shaping the opportunities and connections we create for our students. As we plan a new school structure that reflects the spirit, values, and identity of our community, we warmly invite you to be part of the conversation.

We are hosting a parent information session and discussion focused on the development of a new House system. Designed to strengthen students’ sense of belonging, build character, create leadership opportunities, and deepen their connection to faith and community, this important initiative is set to launch in 2026.

Led by our Ministry Coordinator and House Coordinator, the session will offer an overview of the vision behind the new House system and how it will support the holistic growth of every student. Key topics will include:

• The purpose and rationale for developing a new House system

• The connection between the four Houses and our Catholic identity and values

• How the system will support:

  • Faith and service formation

  • A deeper sense of belonging and school spirit

  • Student leadership and meaningful engagement

  • Events, competitions, and new traditions

The information session will run for approximately 30 minutes, followed by an opportunity for questions and open discussion. We also invite you to stay for a brief presentation from our school and parish leaders, who will share important updates about our broader community.

Key event details are outlined below:

Time:  6.00pm – 7.00pm
Date:  Wednesday 4 June
Location:  Online. Please use the link published via Compass.

This event will form part of the FACE Forum (Family and Community Engagement Forum) initiatives hosted by St Mary’s Catholic College throughout the year. Please see Compass Article posted Monday 12 May for a copy of the agenda.

 We hope you can join us as we shape this exciting new chapter together.

Key Dates

Two weeks at a glance

Ministry

Honouring Our Story: Establishing a House System Rooted in Faith and Identity

As a College community, we are currently engaged in a deeply meaningful process: the establishment of a new House system that reflects who we are, where we have come from, and who we are called to be. This process is more than administrative change, it is a spiritual and cultural undertaking, honouring our rich story and the values that guide us.

St Mary’s Catholic College was blessed with its name, St Mary’s, by the Sisters of St Joseph, inspired by Mary’s faithful “yes” at the Annunciation. That “yes” echoes throughout our history. It was heard again in the lives of St Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods, who together founded the Sisters of St Joseph. Their courageous response to the needs of their time laid the foundations for generations of service, including the establishment of our College in East Lake Macquarie in 1964.

The development of our House system seeks to carry that spirit forward, to give our students and staff a sense of belonging grounded in the Catholic narrative that continues to shape our identity. Each House will honour a key patron whose life embodies the values we strive to live by. These MAY include Mary, the Mother of God; St Mary MacKillop; Fr Julian Tenison Woods; St Joseph; and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Their lives form a sacred tapestry of faith, hope, courage, and service.

The Mission Team has been prayerfully discerning house names, symbols, values, and colours, with deep respect for the legacy of the Josephite charism. Their thoughtful contributions reflect a strong desire to shape a system that not only supports student wellbeing and school spirit but also grounds our community in Gospel values and the enduring “yes” that has carried our story through time.

As this work continues, we invite the wider College community to remain connected to this process, for it is a story that belongs to us all. We are not just building a House system. We are building a culture of belonging, meaning, and mission- one that honours our past, shapes our present, and will inspire those who come after us.

DeAnna Addicoat - Ministry Coordinator

Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Year 10 (Year 11 2026) Information Evening

We are looking forward to meeting with our Year 10 parents and carers at our upcoming Year 10 (Year 11 2026) Stage 6 Course Information Evening being held on Wednesday 11 June commencing at 6pm in The Josephite Centre.  I urge all parents to attend as we focus together on our students, your children, making appropriate and informed choices about their senior pattern of study. The 2026 Course Handbooks have been distributed to all Year 10 students, and you are encouraged to take the time to review the information in the handbook as we move towards selection of subjects for Year 11 2024.

The evening will have two sections – A gathering in the TJC at 6pm outlining details re Course Selection, ATAR and Vocational Pathways. There will also be presentations from the Leaders of Learning in English, Mathematics and Religion regarding advice about the various levels and content of these subjects. In the second section of the evening, students and family members will have the chance to meet with teachers in all subjects including information re EVET, VET and SBAT subjects. We will also have a representative from UoN with us on the evening.

We encourage all to attend and look forward to joining with you all for this very significant evening. Please bring your Handbooks with you on the evening!

Professional Learning at St Mary’s – The ALARM MATRIX

On Tuesday 20 May, our teachers revisited ALARM – a Learning and Responding Matrix.

ALARM is a cognitive scaffold for:
- writing
- learning
- deconstructing questions
- feedback
- reflection.

ALARM is a powerful tool that helps improve literacy and assists students with composing written responses for assessment tasks and exams. By using the ALARM scaffold, students are guided to compose more sophisticated written responses that will help them progress from a Band 4 or 5 to a Band 6. (Stage 6)

All too often, students do not know how to move beyond a 'C Grade' paper that simply describes and explains. To get top marks, students need to be able to show analysis and evaluation of concepts. By using the ALARM framework, students will be able to confidently break down questions to determine exactly what is being asked and how to approach writing a higher order response. ALARM uses NESA Key Words to explicitly teach students to identify, describe, explain, analyse, interpret, critically analyse and evaluate. This hierarchy of thinking and writing skills is aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy to enable students to understand the different complexities required for different questions. This helps students produce more sophisticated extended responses in secondary school, the HSC and beyond. 

ALARM is not just a literacy tool, it also helps students to view learning as a process. It promotes deeper understanding by employing higher order thinking skills, such as analysis and evaluation, and it enhances student inquiry and reflection. ALARM helps students go from the level of content to the level of concept. School subjects are often content driven. ALARM, however, uses the content to arrive at the level of concept. This provides students with a big picture learning map.

In addition, ALARM provides students with a skills set that is transferable across school subjects and school years. Another major benefit of using ALARM is that it increases metacognition by making the learning process explicit. Understanding HOW to learn is integral for students to become lifelong learners.

SOURCE: https://www.virtuallibrary.info/alarm.html

Please read below for some of the key ideas explored at our PLM this week.

Cathy O'Gorman - Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Respectful Relationships

Leader of Wellbeing - Year 7

I am so impressed with how well Year 7 have settled into St Mary’s!

The students’ understanding of our College Mantra, Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be a Learner, can be seen in the way the students greet and thank their teachers, engage in their learning, line up for lunch orders in the main quad on a Friday, and make the best of limited space on these wild, wet and windy days. The weather hasn’t been with us of late, has it? And yet, Year 7 students have navigated this challenge well. In fact, one of the highlights of my week, last week, was an intense game of European Handball at lunchtime, in the hall. We played golden point, and I rotated teams of 5 onto the court to face off against each other. The girls held their own against the boys, and it was a brilliant display of Year 7 camaraderie and a healthy use of energy.

I wanted to share the above verse from Isaiah 43:10 with you. In case your child needs a bit of an identity boost at any point, or their self-esteem bolstered, remind them that each one of us is “chosen and set apart for great purpose!”.  Whenever possible, remind your child that they are set apart, as Isaiah tells us. The job after that is to put their best feet forward, to embrace the day and make the most of their opportunities. When they fail, I remind them to fail forward – on their Orientation Day I said they would falter at some point – it’s about moving forward, learning from our mistakes, and being better. As Year 7 continue to build their sense of self, they will learn and grow.

This is the work.

David Luschwitz - Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement - Year 7

Year 7 CoGAT Testing

In Term 2, students in Year 7 will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). This test evaluates students' reasoning abilities in three key areas essential for success in school: 

1. Verbal Battery: Assesses students' ability to reason with words and concepts, crucial for reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and verbal learning tasks.
2. Quantitative Battery: Measures students' ability to reason with quantitative symbols and concepts, which are vital for problem-solving in mathematics and other disciplines.
3. Nonverbal Battery: Evaluates students' ability to reason with geometric shapes and figures, requiring them to implement strategies for solving novel problems.

These batteries provide a comprehensive view of each student's learned reasoning abilities, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. CogAT aims to support differentiated practice in education by helping teachers adapt instruction to meet the unique needs and abilities of each student. 

It's important to note that CogAT scores are not integrated into report grades or other conventional measures of school achievement. The focus is on tailoring instruction and fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment based on each child's ability. 

If you have any concerns or questions about your child's academic progress or specific educational needs, please schedule a meeting with your child's teacher. They will discuss your child's strengths and areas for growth based on various assessments. Additionally, you can contact our Gifted Education Mentor (GEM Louise Henderson louise.henderson@mn.catholic.edu.au , or Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education, Maree Karaka (maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au), for further assistance. 

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring the best educational outcomes for our students. 

Louise Henderson - Gifted Education Mentor

Marine Studies

World Ocean Day- 8^th June 2025

I had the privilege to view Sir David Attenborough’s latest documentary, Ocean, that was 4 years in the making. It coincides with David Attenborough’s 99th birthday and will be available on streaming services globally on world oceans day on the 8th of June.

On World Ocean Day world leaders will meet for the United Nations Ocean Conference in France. Ocean with David Attenborough will show why ocean recovery is vital for stabilising our climate and securing a healthier future for us all, and how marine protection – if immediately implemented – can help to turn the tide. The film is not just a visual spectacle but also an urgent call for action. Attenborough’s narration, as always, blends awe with concern, urging us to recognise the ocean’s importance and the urgency of preserving it.

The Global Ocean Treaty is more than just an environmental issue—it is a matter of global responsibility. All waters of the ocean are interconnected, and its health directly affects all of us. Climate change, pollution and overfishing are pushing the ocean to the brink of collapse. Food security and the livelihoods of billions of people hang in the balance.

After years of campaigning, the first ever Global Ocean Treaty was passed at the UN in 2023, but governments now need to sign it into law, to make protected areas a reality at sea. Time is running out, and reaching this target will require a strong and urgent political response.

Australia has signed but not ratified the Global Ocean Treaty. The new government must prioritise ratifying as a matter of urgency. The Global Ocean Treaty is an essential tool for protecting life in the high seas. By creating new sanctuaries we can protect the ocean for the future. Join the fight to advocate for the Australian Government to be a leader in protecting the ocean. 

“My lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Over the last hundred years, scientists and explorers have revealed remarkable new species, epic migrations and dazzling, complex ecosystems beyond anything I could have imagined as a young man. In this film, we share some of those wonderful discoveries, uncover why our ocean is in such poor health, and, perhaps most importantly, show how it can be restored to health. This could be the moment of change. Nearly every country on Earth has just agreed, on paper, to achieve this bare minimum and protect a third of the ocean. Together, we now face the challenge of making it happen.”

-David Attenborough

Shane Abell - Marine Studies Teacher

Creative Arts

Aspire - Song Writing Competition

Congratulations to the following Elective Music Students who performed at The Factory Theatre, St Pius X Adamstown on Thursday May 22^nd.

We are very proud of your wonderful performances last night and the incredible songs you composed, arranged and prepared.

Congratulations to -

Year 12 Music:                Macy Nash  “Dear Mona Lisa” 

Macy explains: "My song is influenced by the well-known painting of 'Mona Lisa' however it does not in any way encapsulate the true story or fact regarding how it came to be (by its original artist). Rather, it is about the awe and wonder of seeing an artwork can provoke in a person, how I feel and resonate with an artwork without having to know its precise backstory, and how this reflects upon my own pattern of thought. I hope that my song will be of impact to those who may feel lonely among peers and sometimes find comfort in the mystery of a piece of art and their own personal interpretation of how it came to be."

 Year 12 Music:                James Bernasconi  “Looking Back Now”

James explains: "My song initially began by reflecting on my grandma and how much I missed her since she had passed away. My grandma was a lover of art and it's a passion we beautifully shared together which allowed me to appreciate art from both my perspective and hers. My song is a way of painting a vivid picture of my grandma through words and music, my song also expresses deep emotion and tribute to her life which is, in itself, a beautiful form of art. Whenever I think of her, it's another painted picture of a perfect moment with her."

Year 10 Music:                 Nathalie Mislos, Xanthia Wadwell, Kate Whitby, Matilda Knowles  “The Artwork of Our Love”

Matilda, Nathalie, Xanthia and Kate explain: "Our song explores the connection between love and art, illustrating emotions much like when a painter captures moments on canvas. Inspired by artists like Vincent van Gogh, the lyrics were written to create a dreamlike atmosphere. By weaving together colours, love and emotion, our song portrays love as a living masterpiece that is expressive and personal much like the way people connect with and find meaning in different artworks."

Photo: James Bernasconi, Matilda Knowles, Xanthia Wadwell, Kate Whitby, Nathalie Mislos, Macy Nash

Ruth McCrae and Adele Weekes - Very proud Music Teachers!

Dio Drama Performance Evening

Diosounds 2025

Each year, more than 450 secondary students from all 13 Catholic High Schools in the region perform in the DioSounds music showcase to more than 2500 people across two shows at the Civic Theatre, Newcastle.

DioSounds is an initiative of the music teachers in the Catholic Schools of Maitland-Newcastle and showcases the incredible musical talents and skills of students ranging in age from 12 to 18 years.

Each year individuals, small ensembles, choirs and concert bands from all across the diocese, take to the stage with a wide variety of performance items from Contemporary Rock to serious Art Music.

The event provides a unique experience for students, parents, friends and the whole community to see the range of talent coming from Catholic Secondary Schools in the Hunter and Manning regions.

DioSounds promotes the performing arts offered in Catholic schools. The whole community is invited and encouraged to attend the evening performance to enjoy the musical and production talents of young people in the diocese.

Let's take a look behind the scenes at St Mary's rehearsals..... you rock kids! Have a blast at Diosounds 😎

Sport

Sport Pathway Program

In 2025, St Mary's implemented significant changes to its Sport program, particularly through the introduction of the Pathways program. This initiative, which spans one term, has garnered enthusiastic participation from students and has led to substantial structural adjustments in the school's sport framework.

Terms 1 and 4 are now dedicated to foundational training and the development of multi-sport skills, serving as a development phase for the upcoming competitive seasons. These terms focus on enhancing training methods and building essential skills across various sports disciplines. This strategic approach ensures that students are well-prepared for the intense competition periods in Terms 2 and 3, which are the busiest terms for our competitive sports.

The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with increased engagement and enthusiasm across all sports. This new structure strives not only to foster skill development, but also promote a more comprehensive and professional approach to sports training and competition at St Mary's.

A reminder this is the new structure

• Internal Sport – Coordinated by Mr. Zac Rediger (Friday sport afternoons)
• External Sport – Coordinated by Mrs. Annette Morgan (Representative and Pathway Sports, as detailed in the information below)

Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather conditions, our Pathway program in Term 2 has suffered regarding training and selections for our Representative teams - it has been a challenge to navigate and maintain training sessions which we hoped to provide for students. 

The Program strives to provide the following:

VISION

To guide, support and educate athletes to thrive and become the best version of themselves in life through their passion of sport

Our program aims to be PERFORMANCE CENTRED

• Commitment
• Humility
• Accountability
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Learning Environment
• Resilience

ST MARY’S VALUES

• “Ready to Serve” is at the centre of all we do at St Mary’s and we give witness in our day-to-day relationships with each other

PROGRAM OUTLINE:

• Prioritising Performance Plans
• Strength training methods
• Skills based – multi contexts
• Nutrition
• Psychology
• Assessment - Pre and Post
• Support network/resources

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA – 

• Attendance at school/pathway program
• Commitment
• Classroom work ethic
• Follow our Mantra – Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be a Learner
• Demonstrate sportsmanship
• Ability to collaborate and communicate in a team environment
  

Failure to adhere to our expectations may result in removal from the program

TERM 2

Due to the recent weather conditions, we are awaiting rescheduled dates for the following:

Student Achievements

Congratulations Jace Cox, Fletcher O'Doherty and Diesel Hagan

Congratulations to Jace Cox, Fletcher O'Doherty and Diesel Hagan who played in the NSW Country Team v City last weekend. All three were selected in the Northern Opens 18yrs team to play at NSWCCC Championships on Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th May at Penrith.This certainly gives the boys the experience required to hopefully gain a position in the NSWCCC side and, fingers crossed, maybe the Australian selections

We wish them all the best for their future sporting endeavours.

Congratulations - Connor Ross

Congratulations extend to Connor Ross who competed in the ACT/NSW Rocky Trail Fox SuperFlow Series for mountain bike racing.  The 2025 Series has so far competed in Narooma, NSW in March - where Connor placed 2^nd and last weekend in ACT, at Mount Stromlo (over two days).  Connor placed 1^st in U15s, out of 71 competitors registered to race.   Fox Superflow - Australia’s Biggest Gravity Enduro Series!

Connor will next race in June at Jolly Nose for 2 days and then Woolgoolga in September.  Last year he placed 2^nd in the whole series for ACT/NSW (out of 232 competitors) and 2nd against the Australian Series.  We wish Connor the very best of luck for his future competition. 🚲 

Stop Press!!!

News just in, as we go to "print"....

St Mary's Catholic College has been awarded Champion School in the Newcastle Science and Engineering  Challenge "Build ME a Future Day 2025". More details and photos in the coming days via Facebook.

Congratulations to the Science and Engineering Team and teaching staff involved.

Landcare

St Mary's is very fortunate that the environment we are surrounded by attracts so much wildlife. We are visited by magpies, crows, lorikeets and magpie larks (or Pee Wee's) every day, on Landcare days we see animals that co-exist in the creek, we have the occasional visit from possums and hear the black cockatoos as they fly over. Last week, however, we had a special visitor that took residence outside Student Services - a Tawny Frogmouth. It didn't seem at all phased by the comings and goings during the day preferring to snooze, waiting patiently before flying off to a more comfortable spot to roost. More information below for budding 'twitchers' (birdwatchers)!

Aboriginal Education

National Reconciliation Week Lessons

National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June, with Sorry Day on Monday 26 May. Continuing over the next couple of weeks, students across Years 7-10 Religion will participate in two lessons addressing this year’s Reconciliation Week theme of ‘Bridging Now to Next’.

Karawang Dance Group now on 11 June

Due to the rain, we have postponed the Reconciliation Week Assembly and performance by the Karawang Dance Group to Wednesday 11 June at 11.10am. Period 2 on that day will be a dance workshop with Roo and Levi to prepare.

Junior AECG

This week our Yr 10 Leaders, Hayley Cummings, Alex Croft, Chloe Mercieca and Ava Hungerford travelled to St Francis Xavier’s, Belmont for our second Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative (AECG) Meeting. Well done to the team for leading the primary students from some of or feeder schools with planning and sharing of ideas.

Wollutuka Institute - University of Newcastle

Kloey Gray and Eva Owen in Year 11 recently attended ‘Lawyer for a Day’ at the University of Newcastle City Campus. The girls must be proud of themselves for the way they stepped up and joined in with uni life! Eva and Kloey were supported by the Wollutuka Institute, who will be offering a range of other experiences over the year.

Paul McKay, Levi Briggs and Roo Faulkner - Aboriginal Education Team

Athlete's Foot School Rewards

St Mary's is part of The Athlete's Foot School Rewards program, we receive $5 from every pair of shoes purchased by St Mary's families. Thank you St Mary's parents and carers for choosing The Athlete's Foot for the purchase of your children's shoes. So far, $95 has been donated back to us which will assist in the purchase of school consumables. Every little helps and we thank you.

Support and Care